The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-01
1HE FIRE TEST.
"A Spiritualistic Woman Puts Her Hands in
a Coal Oil Blaze.

Coal Oil Blaze.
Report in Cincinnati Enquirer.
The choir sang Nearer, my God to Thee
the entire audience assisting Then came the
feature of the evening-the fire test
The test was made by Mrs. lisa Wilson Por-
ter.
A committee was selected from the audience
consisting of DR. W. II. Hunt, DIR. Steel, Prof.
Barton, DR.. Wolfe and Mr.. Schumacher. DR.
Hunt being obliged to leave, MIR. Herbert Hoyt
was substituted on the committee in in his place
The committee took seats on the stage.
Two common eoaloil lamps were placed on a
table.
A member of the committee lifted the lamps
The presiding officer appealed to the audience
to be quiet as possible during the test
Mrs Porter stepped TO the front of the stage
She appeared to be rather nervous
She whispered to the presiding officer
That gentleman Immediately requested Mrs
Porter's mother, Mrs Wilson, to take seat on
the platform
plainly dressed old lady arose from seat in
the audience and took place on the platform.
II don't like to make this test" said Mrs. Por-
ter. II don't like to become unconscious;
don't like to lose my individuality"
She then rolled her sleeves up. barring her
plump arms to the elbow She submitted her
hands and arms to the committee for examina-
ton.
Gentlemen" said she to the committee, Il
will look to you for protection. Don't let any
body grab me do anything that might break
the control too suddenly. That was done to ne
once in Clinton, Ia, and lowered between life
and death for three hours She then bathed
her hands in wash bowl containing a chunk OF
ice.
cts simply ice-water,r said the presiding off
Ger.
She dried her hands thoroughly on towel
Standing beside the table which the lamps
stood, with hands clasped and eyes turned heay-
onward she began an incoherent invocation
The same incoherent words-sounding like the
Indian tongue she continued to repeat over aud
over again all during the test.
After the incoherent invocation she clasped
the hot chimney of one of the lamps between
the palms of her hands and held it without the
Slightest evidence OF discomfort.
The members of the committee couldn't lay a
finger on the chimney, so hot was It. She then
removed the chimney from the light, and placed
her hand in the bright, dancing fame A shud
der Of fear ran through the audience. smile
played on the features of the medium. Again
and again she slowly passed her hands and arms
through the flame. She held her fingers in ths
fame as one would hola their fingers in a basin
of cold water. She continued to repeat those
incoherent words again and again.
She wore some black lace about her neck.
She held that in the flames.
Not the slightest damage was done to it.
She passed her handkerchief through the fiery
element
1t didn't ignite.
She put handkerchief belonging to one of thu
COfHullttco through the same ordeal
1t came out unscathed.
She still muttered those strange words.
At length she extInguished the lamps
Another incoherent invocation with uplifted
eyes, and the spell was broken
She again bathed her hands and arms. which
were black and smoked from their contact will
fire.
The committee examined them
Not burn, not blister, not mark.
DR.. Hunt stepped forward and declared it Il
have been an honest manifestation.
I'VE felt her pulse before the test" said DIR
Steele, another member of the committee ssant
it was seventy. During the test it was forty
after the test sixtyfive. Not hair on her arm,
is even singed"
II feel little weak" said Mrs Porter, afte
the test. to an Enquirer reporter, "but that's be
cause haven't eaten anything to-day. When
undertake the ire test my controls won't ALLOW
me to eat anything for little time previous. ant
a medium has to obey her controls more meekl,
than ever child obeyed parent or pupil teacher